Boomer, a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever, captured the first gold medal of the 2003 Games as he and his handler, Chris Akin of Jonesboro, Ark., finished with 34 points, handily beating three other dogs, including the past two gold medallists.
Young Boomer explodes to take gold medal
The Arkansas pair of Boomer and Chris Aiken made their mark in the retriever world on Wednesday claiming the first gold medal of the 2003 ESPN Great Outdoor Games presented by Dodge.
Windy start to Retriever Trials
Dana Giovanello of Cabot, Ark. and his
6-year-old yellow lab Windy turned in the top performance in the opening
round of the Retriever Trials.
Minn. Super Retriever Series
There is no home-field advantage in Minnesota, at least not yet. After the opening round of the Super Retriever Series at Oak Ridge Kennels, there is a decided southern slant to the top dogs in the competition.
Harkins: Retriever props
Super Sue’s gold medal performance in the 2001 Great Outdoor Games truly was amazing, but what stands out in my mind was her “coming out” party at the Olympic Oval later that day.
SRS notebook Day Three
All the best news, notes and gossip from the Retriever Trials and Big Air events of Day Three's Super Retriever Series in Minnesota
Minn. SRS final: Jinx takes toll
It took three days, but the top-seed jinx of the Super Retriever Series finally took its toll.
As a matter of fact, it turned things totally around.
Derek Randle and Stella of Prairie Grove, Ark., won the event after starting the day in last place.
Day 2: SRS notebook
All the news, notes and gossip from behind-the-scenes of Day Two's Minnesota Super Retriever Series
Day 3: Defying history at SRS
In Super Retriever Series lore, getting the number one seed has been the kiss of death. In almost every event this season, the number one seed has quickly fallen from their throne. That's a fact that J. Paul Jackson hasn't forgotten.
Day 2: Tough choices in SRS
The outcome of every retriever trial boils down to a choice. Some choices are obvious like the timing of a whistle on a critical retrieve. Other choices are not so obvious like, well, the timing of a whistle on a critical retrieve.
Arkansas Super Retriever Series wrap-up
Chris Akin and Boomer obviously have a connection.
All week long organizers of the Super Retriever Series have said that the courses set up in this contest are supposed to test the bond between handler and retriever.
Super Retriever Series: The human factor
The bond between dog and handler supercedes the training of the retriever and the ability of the handler.
Ritz wins Missoula Super Retriever Series
You can hardly count the ways to characterize the ending of the Super Retriever Series.
Super Retriever Series: The dog days of fall
Fangsrud and Ninja... quite a pair.
McMurray and Pepper train to 'retrieve' gold in 2003
The Little Rock, Ark., duo won the bronze in 2002. Now they want to improve on the color of the medal.
